Jeff Parrott, County Clerk

Elections/Political

SPECIAL ELECTION NOTICES:

Beware of false information regarding polling locations, dates, and/or times. Polling places are open today, Election Day, from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm and we encourage everyone to verify their voting location either by examining the information on their sample ballot or by clicking here.

If you receive a Vote-By-Mail Ballot in the mail from your County Clerk’s Office, you should vote that ballot; you will not be permitted to vote on the voting machines at your polling place.

On August 10, 2018, new legislation went into effect that changes the options voters have when voting by mail, AND, IMPORTANTLY, changes the way SOME voters have been assigned to vote in future elections. If you voted by mail in the 2016 General Election, the new law has assigned you to be a “Vote-By-Mail Voter” — unless you notify your county clerk in writing that you want to be removed from the permanent vote-by-mail list.

COMPLETE & RETURN THIS FORM TO OPT-OUT if you no longer want to receive mail-in ballots for all future elections.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! If you have questions about the new law and how it might affect your voting options this November, get answers BEFORE you go to the polls! Check out our Vote by Mail Q&A page. Still have questions? Get the facts … Call your County Clerk’s Office.

Voter Registration

At least 17 years of age; but you will not be able to vote in an election until you are at least 18 years of age

A resident of your home county for at least 30 days before the next election

You are not eligible to register to vote if you are serving a sentence or are on parole or probation, as a result of a conviction of an indictable offense under state or federal law, or have been adjudged mentally incompetent.

Voter Registration Forms are processed by the County Board of Elections. Complete the registration form and mail to: Sussex County Board of Elections, 83 Spring St., Suite 305, Newton, NJ 07860.

The Voter Registration Form also can be used for name and address changes. Forms must be received by the County Board of Election at least 21 days prior to the next election in order to be able to vote in that election.

Where To Vote

To locate your polling place…Use this GIS link and type your home address in the search box. Your polling place and respective voting precinct will then be highlighted on the map and information about the polling place will be displayed.

Who's On The Ballot

2018 November 6 General Election

“Sample Ballots” are provided for information purposes only and CANNOT be voted. They represent a sample of the Vote By Mail Ballot, and are provided as a courtesy to the public.

If you are a registered voter in the county, you will receive a printed Sample Ballot in the mail approximately one week prior to Election Day that shows you what your electronic ballot will look like when you go to your polling place to vote on Election Day. NOTE: Your mailed sample ballot also CANNOT be voted; it is for previewing purposes only.

EARLY VOTING OPTIONS …

SPECIAL EXTENDED HOURS for in-person voting will be available at the County Clerk’s Office in Newton on Saturday, November 3, from 9 a.m. through noon. (83 Spring St., Suite 304; use parking lot behind building on Trinity Street)

Anyone can vote early by mail without having to state a reason for wanting to do so. Mail-in Ballots (also called “Absentee Ballots” or “Vote By Mail Ballots”) are available 45 days prior to Election Day. We offer the following options to obtain a mail-in/absentee ballot:

Option 1: Request and Receive Your Ballot by Mail

To receive your ballot by mail, download a Mail-In Ballot Application and complete Sections 1-9* and mail your signed application to Sussex County Clerk’s Office, 83 Spring St., Suite 304, Newton, NJ 07860. In order to receive your ballot by mail, your application must be received in our office a minimum of seven (7) days prior to an election. Any voter who fails to apply by the deadline may apply in person at our office up to 3:00 p.m. the day before the election. Voters should visit our website for updated information on extended hours offered for in-person/early voting the Saturday before a scheduled election.

*NOTES:

If someone assisted you in completing your application, they should complete Section 10.

Once you apply for a mail-in ballot, you will not be allowed to vote at your polling place in the same election.

If you apply for a mail-in ballot, you will not be able to vote on the machine at your polling place on Election Day. Should there be a problem with your mail-in ballot (e.g., you misplace it or don’t receive it by the mailing deadline) and you go to your polling place to vote, the poll worker should issue you a Provisional paper ballot.

Option 2: Apply in Person

Any voter who fails to apply for a mail-in ballot by the deadline may apply in person at our office up until 3:00 p.m. the day before the election. Voters are welcome anytime Mon-Fri between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Voters should visit our website for updated information on extended hours for in-person/early voting as an election date draws near.

Option 3: Authorize a Messenger To Deliver Your Ballot

For those voters who cannot make it to the polls on Election Day, but who do not have enough time to apply by mail for a “Mail-In Ballot,” they may authorize a messenger to apply on their behalf, messenger them their ballot, and then deliver their voted ballot to the County Board of Elections.

Download a Vote By Mail Ballot Application. You must complete Sections 1-9 and 11 (complete Section 10 only if applicable). The voter authorizes a person to act as an authorized messenger by completing and signing Section 11 of the application. The authorized messenger will be required to present photo ID and apply his/her signature to Section 11 in front of the County Clerk or his designee at the time the application is submitted.

Note that an authorized messenger may not serve as a messenger for more than THREE qualified voters and, likewise, is limited to be the bearer of THREE voted ballots. The voted ballots must be delivered to the County Board of Elections, where the bearer will be required to present official identification before signing the mandated bearer log.

To qualify as an authorized messenger …

Person must be a registered voter in the county or a family member of the qualified voter.

Person CANNOT be a candidate in the election for which the voter is requesting a Mail-In Ballot.

Feel free to call the Clerk’s Office with any Early Voting questions you may have (973-579-0900, ext. 1507)

Overseas Voters

If you are currently overseas, you may complete an overseas ballot application, which will allow you to vote via regular mail, fax, or e-mail. This service is available to residents (or former residents) of Sussex County who are living or working out of the United States, including military personnel and their dependents.

Types of “Overseas” voters
U.S. citizens living permanently overseas may vote a Federal Overseas Ballot, which allows them to vote for Federal offices only, including President, U.S. Senate, and Congress; whereas U.S. citizens visiting or residing temporarily overseas are eligible to vote the complete ballot of their permanent address in the U.S.

Military Voters

Military servicemen and women who need to vote by absentee ballot should apply for their ballot using the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA). The following voters also can apply using the FPCA: dependents of military personnel, patients in veteran hospitals, and civilians attached to or serving in the military. For more information on voting absentee in the military and/or voting overseas, visit fvap.gov.

Note that voted ballots must be received by the County Board of Elections before the close of polls on Election Day.

Option to Vote by Mail in ALL FUTURE ELECTIONS

Voters who wish to vote by mail in each and every future election may request that they be placed on a list to receive Vote By Mail ballots for ALL future elections by checking the ALL FUTURE ELECTIONS box in Section 1 of the Vote By Mail Application.

Once you submit an application requesting to receive Mail-In ballots for ALL future elections, you will not be permitted to vote on the voting machines at your polling place.

Your voted ballot must be received by the County Board of Elections before the close of polls on Election Day, or if mailed to the Board, must be post-marked by Election Day and received no later than 48 hrs after the time of the closing of the polls.

In New Jersey, ALL accepted mail-in/absentee ballots are counted on Election Day.
If you require additional information not found at this site, please feel free to Contact Us.